Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can usually be present in rock, sediment, or soil. It has solid fibers that are heat tolerant and have excellent insulating properties. You can’t see asbestos fibers with the naked eye, and since they’re very light, the wind can fly long distances.
The commercialization of Asbestos began with the Industrial Revolution. It was during the beginning of the 20th century when Asbestos mining had been a major thing and a lot of countries had been importing this material for its durability compared to other materials at that time.
Asbestos was thought to be very useful for construction materials because of its properties, but later on, it was found that this material was actually harmful to human health and can invite lung diseases to cancer. It is also classified as carcinogenic and is banned by the Government of Australia in 2003.
If your home was build before that period specified in the 1990s then your home has a chance of having this material. The material is not harm until it starts to degrade the air quality. However, it is a good idea to get things assessed and get it removed as soon as possible.